Prior to the monsoon this year, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) requested more than 7,500 residents living in 619 buildings to vacate their buildings as they are at a risk to fall. Every year, the civic body as a part of its monsoon preparedness drive lists out the buildings at risk of falling during the rains to avoid any mishap.
Last year, BMC had identified 791 such buildings whereas there are 619 buildings that have been listed in the C-1 category which means those buildings are ‘dangerous to live.’ Officials have issued notices to the residents to vacate the buildings. Out of these 619 buildings, 72 have been evacuated and are being demolished whereas the proposal to demolish another 41 is being processed before the Technical Advisory Committee.
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TAC is the committee that solely has the authority to decide whether the buildings should be put in the C-1, C-2 (major repairs required) or C-3 category (minor repairs required). This year’s list of C-1 majorly consists of buildings of the ‘L’ ward – Kurla and Sakinaka – which have 106 buildings at risks whereas Ghatkopar is next with 51 buildings.
Nidhi Choudhari, the Deputy Municipal Commissioner told Hindustan Times, “So far, electricity and water connections of 120 buildings have been disconnected, and we have informed the police department about the buildings that need to be evacuated.”
The officials explained that the residents fear that the builders would cheat them, and there is a fear of losing their homes after redevelopment.
In a conversation with Mumbai Live, Ramesh Prabhu, Chairman of Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association, said, “There have been instances where the developer has stopped paying rent to the residents after they vacate the buildings, owing to several reasons leading to project delays. Considering the current market conditions, the project completion cannot be estimated because of which residents are unwilling to move. Further, over 50% of redevelopment projects in the city is on hold due to several reasons.”
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